Cotton or other press



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. s. MUNGER. GOTTONOR OTHER PRESS.

Patented Dec. 2, 1884.

N. Pcmzs, PlmIn-Lllhogmphur. swam. n.c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. S. MUNGER.

COTTON OR OTHER PRESS. No. 308,789. PatentednDeo. 2, 1884. r

mmaasas.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheeb 3, R. S. MUNGBR.

COTTON OR OTHER PRESS.

No. 308,789. PatentedDeo. 2,1884.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETcE.

ROBERT S. MUNGER, OF MEXIA, TEXAS.

COTTON OR OTHER PRESS.

SPECIFICATIOZEI forming part of Letters Patent No. 308,789, dated December 2 1884.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT S. MUNGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mexia, Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cotton and other Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of cottonpresses in which duplex bale or press boxes arranged to swing upon centers are adapted to be brought in line with a stationary platen and a movable follower, parts of the invention, however, being also capable of use in connection with press-boxes having movable doors or sides.

The invention consists in a double bale-box which is arranged to swing upon a center-post sponding sockets on the double bale-box, so

as to permit the latter to swing or turn on said center -post. The circular bearings on the center-post are composed of two verticallybisected shells or members, which have a bottom flange that rests on an offset or shoulder formed 011 the center-post, and is provided with lugs or spurs which enter the center-post. Cross-bars on the pressbox frame have semicircular reccsses or cuts which receive the circular bearings on the center-post, and on the bottom of said recess are applied metal wear plates or rings that turn in contact with the flanges of the circular bearings.

The invention also consists in looking and releasing mechanism for the hinged sides or doors of the press-box, which comprises a transverse or horizontal shaft that is j ournaled in bearings on one of the press-box doors, and has a central downwardly-projecting lever or arm and end hooks or projections. The latter are adapted for engagement with eye rods or bars jointed to the opposite press-box door, so that when the parts are thus interlocked and the lever of the rock-shaft is suitably secured the doors on the opposite sides of the press-box will be firmly held by one and the same locking mechanism. By releasing the lever of' the rock-shaft from the press-box, to which it has been temporarily fastened, the expansive force of the bale causes the lever and rock-shaft to operate or turn in such a manner as to release the eye rods or bars, and in this manner both pressbox doors are gradually released and allowed to drop down for allowing the bale to be removed. Other minor details of the invention are also embraced in the invention, and will be hereinafter more fully described, and then set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of acotton-press embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan or top view. Fig. 4 is a de tail view showing the construction of centerpost for the baleboxes and the sectional bear,- ings. Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, represent modifications of the frame-work in which the pressboxes are mounted.

Astationary frame-work in which the pressboxes are mounted consists of the vertical standard or column 1, having at the top a beam, 2, which extends at right angles from one side of said standard, and has a platen, 3, for the press-box, fastened thereto in any approved manner. The lower end of the standard 1 is secured to a base or sill, 4, and at the outer end of said base-sill is arranged a vertical tie-rod, 5, as is seen in Figs. 1 and 5, or a standard, 6, as is shown in Fig. 7. The upper end of this tie-rod or standard is secured to the beam 2, extending from the top of the standard 1, and all the members specified comprise a strong and substantial frame which contains the press-boxes 7. It should be observed that the base-sill 4 also rests upon additional sills 8, and that the upper end of the standard 1 is suitably secured to the beams of the structure or house in which the press is located. The standard 1 is composed of two vertically-divided sections, through which may pass a tie-rod, 9, that also extends through the base-sill at and top beam, 2, nuts being ap plied to the screw-threaded ends of said tierod. The tie-rod 5, that connects the base-sill 4with the top beam, 2, may have an encircling sheathing, 10, of wood, as shown in Fig. 1, or

. 20 17, as is seen in Fig. 1.

standard 1, and is secured by transverse bolts and a vertical plate or shoe, 12, that fits over the top beam and is bolted to the standard 1. The bottom of the latter alsois fitted between a double basesill and is held by transverse bolts and an anchor-plate,13, having a key, 14, passed through the same beneath the sill, as is seen in Fig. 6.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7 the 10 standard 1 is secured in the same manner as in Fig. 6, and the outside standard, 6, also is fastened to the base-sill and top beam in substantially the same way as said standard 1.

The frame in which the duplex press-boxes r 5 7 are mounted consists of the longitudinal beams 14, the end beams, 15, and the central bars, 16. These parts are arranged to form two rectangular top and bottom frames, which are connected and braced by diagonal struts,

The beams 14 extend sufficiently'far beyond the press-boxcs to receive the end beams, 15, which are secured thereto by bolts, or by suitable straps and rivets. The bars 16 rest on opposite sides of the central standard, 1, and are supported at their ends upon the longitudinal beams 14;, being secured thereto by suitable bolts, 17, or other fastening devices. The vertical face of the central portion of each bar 16 is provided 0 with a semicircular recess or cut, 18, at the bottom of which is applied a semicircular metal plate, 40, that is made with. vertical cars 19, let into the bar 16.

' At the points of the standard 1 where the 3 5 bars 16 are fitted I form reduced portions which are encircled by the cylindrical sleeves 20, that are formed of two vertically-bisected shells or members, as is clearly seenin Fig.4. These shells are made in sections,so that they can be easily fitted on the divided or sectional standard, and theyhave each a.bottom flange, 21, which rests upon a shoulder or offset formed by the reduced portion of the standard 1. A11 ear or lug, 22, on the under side of the 5 flange 21 is let into the wood of the standard and serves to hold the shell in position. It is apparent that the aforesaid bisected shell constitutes a smooth anti friction bearing on which the wear-plates on the bars 16 can turn or rotate.

By providing the metal bearing and wear plates, as just stated, I effectually overcome all liability of the binding of the press-boxes and am enable to rotate the same freely and 5 5 uniformly at all times.

The duplex press-b0xes are open at the top and bottom, and are designed to be brought under the top platen and over the bottom follower, 23, as is seen in Fig. 1. XVhen either box is in this position, the follower can be operated and entered into the box for compressing the cotton between said follower and the top platen.

It should be observed that a platform or floor, 24, (indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2,) extends from the press-boxes and revolves therewith, said floor being adapted to be locked to a stationary floor of the press-house by means of pivoted catches 25 on the press-box frame and sockets or shoes 26 on said stationary floor.

The upper section of each press-box is composed of the stationary end panels, 27, and the hinged side doors, 28, that are hung upon the horizontal journals 29, arranged at the bottom of said doors. In this manner it is evident that the doors can be turned into a vertical position for forming a closed press-box, and swung down into a horizontal position for gaining access to the interior of the pressbox when removing the pressed bale. The side doors are held in a closed or raised position by means of a locking, mechanism which acts upon both doors, and is so arranged that the latter are gradually released at both ends to permit them to be let down for opening the press-box.

The locking and releasing mechanism comprises a horizontal rock-shaft, 30, which is j ournaled on the outer side of one of the press-box doors, and has a central lever-shaped extension, 31, that extends in a downward direction, and is adapted to engage with a hook or stop projection, 32, on the press-box door. The ends of the shaft 30 terminate in upwardly-turned hooks 32, which are adapted to receive eye rods, straps, or bars 33, carried by the opposite press-box door. It is evident from Fig. 3 that these eyc-rods are jointed to one of the press-box doors, and that they can be fitted or swung onto the hooks of the rock-shaft 30. XVhen the parts are thus engaged and the lower end of the lever 31 is held by its stop devices the press-box doors are held firmly down so as to allow the follower to work in a closed press-box formed in this manner. \Vhen the pressed bale is to be removed, the lever 31 is released, and thereupon the expansive force of the bale will effect an oscillation of the rock-shaft and throw the hooks thereon out of engagement with the eye-rods. The doors are thus gradually released without any at tendant jar or noise, and are free to be lowered into a horizontal position by virtue of their bottom hinge-joints, and in this manner it is evident that one and the same mechanism suffices to hold the doors on both sides of the press-box until the time when said mechanism is released in the manner indicated.

For assisting the raising and lowering of the press-box doors, which, it may be stated, are quite heavy, I provide springs 33 at each side of the press-box, which bear upon the middle portion of the door they assist in closing; These springs are of any desired form capable of exerting proper pressure upon the door.

I have in the drawings indicated a spring that is attached to the platform surrounding the bale-box, and is of a coiled shape, having a vertical arm, 34, that bears upon or is fitted in aforked or slotted bracket, 35, on the pressbox door.

It is evident that when the door is turned on its hinges and lowered the spring is compressed and is held in such condition by the weight of the superimposed door. When the latter is being raised, the spring exerts a lifting pressure upon the same and materially lessens the labor of lifting the door, which is of great importance when theweight and frequent manipulations of the door are taken into consideration.

Vhat I claim is- 1. In a cotton-press, the combination of the vertically-divided standard having the cylindrical bisected shells or bearings provided with a bottom flange and fasteningdugs, with the revolving press-boxframe havingasocket encircling said bisected bearings and provided with metal wear-plates, substantially as described.

2. In a cottonpress, the combination of the press-box having two hinged side doors,and a rock-shaftjournaled at one of the hinged doors,

and provided with a central lever and end hooks, and the eye rods or bars connected at one end with one door, and at the other end adapted to engage with said hooked rock- 25 shaft for holding the doors closed and simultaneously and gradually releasing both ends of said doors, substantially as described.

3. In a cotton-press, the combination, with the press-box having a hinged door turning on 30 a horizontal axis and arranged to be raised and lowered of a spring bearing upon said door and connected with the press-box or pressframe for assisting the raising and closing of said door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. MU NGER.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. NoRRIs, Jos. L. CooMBs. 

